Incandescent-lamp socket.



N0. 805,287. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

` J. J. HARTLEY.

INGANDESGENT LAMP SOCKET. APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1903.

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PATENTED Nov. 21, 1905.

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J. J. HARTLBY.

INCANDBSGENT LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1903 //ifzr/mf/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES J. HARTLEY, OF SYRAClUSE, NEW YORK. ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

INCANDESCENT-LAMP SOCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed May 1, 1903. Serial No. 155,132.

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Be it known that I, JAMES J. HARTLEY, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Incandescent-Lamp' Sockets, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in incandescent-lamp sockets in which a suitable electric switch is mounted upon and within a base of insulating material and is electrically connected in the electric-lighting circuit for making and breaking the circuit through the lamp.

The broad object of the various improvements hereinafter set forth is to simplify the structure and to economize in the cost of labor and material in the manufacture of the sockets.

The specific objects are, first, to mount the switch and its supporting frame within a sectional insulator-base in such manner that any variation due to shrinkage or other imperfections in the manufacture of the insulator-sections, such as porcelain, does not interfere with the easy and rapid assemblage of the parts nor with the perfect contact of the switch members for making and breaking the circuit; second, to insulate the lineterminals of opposite polarity from each other to reduce the liability of short-circuits or leakage of the current; third, to' adapt the socket for use in connection with either the center screw -stud or screw shell rim contact-in other words, to permit the socket to be readily interchanged for use in connection with the Thomson t Houston orEdisonlamps; fourth, to hold the insulating-cap in the head of the outer shell in position by means of lugs or ears stamped or pressed inwardly and upwardly from the body of the cap of the shell, thereby utilizing the stock which is cut out to form a bayonet-lock as the fastening means for the insulating cap; fifth, to utilize portions of the shell for forming anut or nuts to receive the fastening-screws which secure the cap to the main outer shell; sixth, to mount the terminals and contact members wholly upon one of the insulator-base sections, so that they may all be removed at the same time and inspected or repaired without displacing the same.

Further objects will appear in the subsequent description. Y

In the manufacture of porcelain bases, particularly where they are formed in sections, it has been found that the shrinkage and other imperfections necessitates careful adjustment of the switch mechanism when assembling the same in the socket 0r base in order that the contact may be perfect, and it frequently happens that this adjustment is neglected, and therefore the making and breaking of the circuit is unreliable. This is particularlytrue when the U-shaped frame which is generally employed is arranged in an upright positionthat is, with the arms extending in the direction of the axis of the socket-in which instance it is customary to make contact with the periphery of the threaded shell, which is secured to the insulator-base to receive the threaded rim of the lamp. It will also be observed that in this class of lamps and sockets the member which contacts with the center terminal of the lamp is imperfectly insulated from the switch mechanism, which insulation is generally nothing more than an air-space and sometimes the interposition of mica or similar insulating material. It will readily be seen that when nothing but an air-space is left between this contact member and the switch mechanism there is more or less liability of the arcing of the current between the parts and that when the mica or other insulating material is interposed it adds materially to the cost of the socket. My invention is designed to overcome these defects and, further, to add to the general safety and eiiiciency of the socket and its operating parts.

In the drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal vertical sectional View of a socket embodying the various features of my invention, a portion of a lamp being shown as operatively mounted in the socket. Figs. 2, 3, and et are sectional views taken, respectively, on lines 2 2, Fig. 1, 3 3, Fig. 2, and 4 4, Fig. 3, the lamp being omitted in Fig. 2, and the outer shell is omitted in Fig. 4. Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly in section, of the detached insulator-base and threaded metallic socket, showing particularly one of the screws which unite the metal socket and base-sections together. Fig. 6 is an inverted view of the main insulator-section of the base, showing particularly the manner of mounting the U-shaped frame IOO and switch mechanism. Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7 7, Fig. 5, showing the base-sections as separated from each other for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the terminals and switch mechanism. Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of the detached insulatorbase sections, the line-terminals being shown in Fig. 9. Figs. 10 and 11 are perspective views of the detached key-frame and one of the spring-terminals, which is adapted to be secured to said frame. Figs. 12 and 13 are detail views of the detached key-spindle and the metal threaded socket for receiving the lamp. Fig. 414 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 1, omitting the outer shell and the upper base-section, and showing the lower basesection as equipped with a center threaded stud for receiving a Thomson-Houston lamp having a threaded center socket. Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional View similar to Fig. 4, eX- cept looking in the opposite direction and showing the threaded center stud and socket seen in Fig. 12. Fig. 16 is an inverted plan View of the lower insulator-base section seen in Figs. 12 and 13, showing the center and rim contact members for the lamp-terminals. Figs. 17 and 18 are respectively inverted plan and side elevation of the detached cap of the outer shell, showing the means for fastening the inner insulating-cap in position. Fig. 19 is a sectional View taken on line 19 19, Fig. 17. Fig. 20 is a vertical sectional View through the outer shell and its inner lining of insulating material. Fig. 21 is an elevation of the upper end of the shell seen in Fig. 20. Fig. 22 is a sectional view taken on line 22 22, Fig. 20, showing the means for reinforcing the threaded tap in the shell. Fig. 23 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion ofthe shell, showing a modified means for reinforcing the tap. Fig. 24 is a sectional View taken on line 24 24, Fig. 23. Fig. 25 is a perspective view of the detached nut seen in Figs. 23 and 24.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

In carrying out the several objects stated I providea metal shell consisting' of amain section 1 and a cap 2, the cap end of the shell being provided with threaded openings 3 through its side walls for receiving clampingscrews 4, portions of the shell at the opposite sides of said threaded opening being cut or stamped from the body of the shell to form wings 5, which are folded inwardly across the opening 3, said inwardly-folded portions being also tapped' and thread ed for receiving the inner end of the screw 4 and reinforcing the mat 1 at this point to form a nut, as seen in Figs. 3, 20, 21, and 22.

The end of the cap 2is adapted to telescope with the adjacent end of the main shell 1 and preferably incloses the upper end of said shell, said cap being provided with a recess 6, extending inwardly and laterally from its end edges to receive the screws 4, and together with said screws forms what may be termed a bayonet-lock for holding the cap in operative position. In forming these recesses 6 it is customary to cut away the stock; but it has been found that portions of this stock which has been heretofore wasted may be utilized to hold an insulating-cap, as 7, in operative position within the cap 2, and therefore the portions 6 of the metal which forms the upright of the recess 6 is left attached at its upper end and is then bentinwardly and upwardly against the inner faces of the insulating-cap 7, as seen in Figs. 1, 2, 17, and 19, and it is thus apparent that the only metal which is actually wasted is that which forms the lateral portion of the recess 6.

Although I have described the threaded opening 3 as reinforced by folding parts of the stock of the shell inwardly to overlap each other, as seen in Fig. 22, it is desirable in some instances to use a separate nut 5, as seen in Figs. 23 and 25, in which instance I also stamp or cut out portions of the metal of the shell and bend the same inwardly to form tongues 8, which enter grooves 9 in the adjacent ends of the nut 5@ and thus hold the nut in operative position with its threaded aperture alined with the aperture 3.

The outer shell 1 is provided with an inner lining or shell 2 of insulating material which serves to prevent short-circuiting of thepowercurrent to said shell.

Mounted within and inclosed by the shell 1 and cap 2 is an insulator-base comprising upper and lower sections 1() and 11, the upper section being regarded as the main body, and is provided with a central recess 12 and opposite cut-outs 13, the recess 12 serving to receive the switch mechanism presently described, and the cut-outs 13 receive the binding-posts to which the line-wires are secured, and it is thus apparent that the terminals of the switch are insulated from the bindingposts by the walls of the recess 12, and that the opposite terminals of different polarity of the line-wires are also separated from each other by the same inclosing walls of the recess 12. This recess extends inwardly from the lower end of the section 10, but only part way through said section, so as to leave an imperforated insulating-wall at the upper end of the recess, which adds materially to the safety and efficiency of the socket in preventing short-circuits and leakage of the current.

The lower base-section is of substantially the same diameter as the upper section and extends across the open end of the recess 12, thereby forming a, cap of insulating material for the open end of the recess, which cap also forms the lower end walls of the cut-outs 13. This cap or insulating section 11 is provided with a ange or raised portion 14, which fits within the recess 12, and not only serves to TOO IIO

hold the sections from lateral displacement with reference to each other, but also forms a seat upon which the switch-frame rests, the upper wall of the recess being formed .with a similar seat 15 for engaging the upper edge of said switch-supporting frame, so that the frame is impinged between the seats 14 and 15 when the base-sections are secu red together. This switch-supporting frame preferably consists of a U-shaped bar 16, which is arranged iiatwise in the recess 12, with its arms 17 projecting laterally in a direction at substantially right angles to the axis of the socket, said frame being provided with a laterally-projecting lug 16, having a threaded aperture to receive a screw 19, which latter is passed through an aperture in the insulator-section 1l and serves to secure the frame to said section.

Wrhen my improved socket is to be used with an Edison lamp, I providethe same with a screw-shell 20, which is secured to the base-- section 11 by the screw 19 or by additional screws or clamping-bolts 21, the latter clamping-bolts being passed through apertures in the insulating-sections at one side of the recess 12, and their upper ends are threaded and engaged by suitable nuts 22, embedded in recesses in the upper face of the upper section 10. When this form of threaded socket 20 is employed, it is cut away at 23 to receive a contact member 24, which consists of a springarm having one end 'secured to the base-section 11 by a screw 25, and its other end eX- tends downwardly beneath the lower face of the section 11 and contacts with the center terminal 26 of the lamp 27, the same screw which holds the contact member 24 in place being passed through an aperture in the basesection 11 and engages one of the binding posts or terminals 28 of the line-circuit wire 28, the other wire of the line-circuit being connected to a similarbinding post or terminal 29, mounted upon the base 11 and secured thereto by a screw 30. Secured to the intermediate portion ofthe frame 16 is a U-shaped spring-terminal 31, which is also arranged edgewise longitudinally of the socket and normally bears against a revolving cam 32. This cam is mounted upon a spindle 33, Fig. 12, which is passed through elongated apertures 34 in the arms 17 of the frame 16, said spindle being provided with fins 35, one of which is engaged to lock the cam 32 to rotate with the shaft or spindle, andthe other is arranged in close proximity to one of the arms17 to prevent endwise displacement or withdrawal of the spindle. It may be stated here that the arm adjacent to the latter n of the spindle 33 is of sulricient length to permit the insertion of the n therethrough when the parts are first assembled; but after the spindleis operatively mounted in the frame the opposite walls of the slot at one end are compressed so as to prevent the withdrawal of the key-spindle. A second spring-terminal 36 is secured to the base-section 11 by the screw 30, so that the adjacent ends of the binding-post 29 and terminal 36 are lapped one upon the other and are therefore in electrical connection with each other, the terminal 36 rising from the base-section 11 in alinement with the cam 32, so that when the cam is rotated it is moved into and out of contact with the terminal 36, and thereby makes and breaks the circuit through the terminals 31 and 36. It will thus be seen that one of the line-wires is electrically connected to one of the lamp-terminals, as 26, through the medium of the binding-post 28, screw 25, and contact member 24, and that the other line-wire is electrically connected to the binding-post 29 and spring-terminal 36, the spring-terminal 31 being electrically connected to the other lamp-terminal,as the screwthreaded rim 37, through the medium of the threaded metal socket 23, screw 19, and frame 16, to which latter the spring-terminal 31 is secured. It is now evident that when the cam 32 is in contact with thel terminal 36 the binding-post 29 is electrically connected to the lamp-terminal 37 and that when said cam is not in contact with the terminal 36 the circuit is broken.

It will be noted that the terminal 36 stands in an upright position substantially parallelA with the axis of the socket, so that any variation in the length of the socket or adjustment of the frame 16 makes no difference with the contact, which is always the same. It will also be observed that all of the bindingposts, switch members, and contact-terminals of the socket are mounted upon the base-section 11 and may be removed with said basesection by simply removing the screws 21, which secure the base-sections together, this being accomplished without displacing any of the terminals or switch members, except, of course, those which are attached to the lamp.

In Figs. 14, 15, and 16 I have shown my improved socket as used in connection with what is known as the ,Tho1nson & Houston lamp. having a central metallic threaded bushing 40 and a metal rim contact 41, the lower section 11 of the insulator-base being provided with a threaded stud 42 and spring-terminal 43, the threaded stud 42 taking the place of the spring contact member 24 (seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 7) and engages the threaded bushing 40 and forms one of the lamp-terminals for electrically connecting the same to the binding-post 28, while the rim-contact member 41 is connected to the other lamp-terminal and contacts with the terminal 43, which is in electrical connection with the key-frame 16 through the medium of the screw 19. The threaded stud 42 is fastened to the insulator-base section 11 by a screw 44, and it now becomes evident that in order to adapt the socket for use in connection with the Thomson & Houston lamps, it is simply necessary to remove the spring contact member 24 and threaded socket 2O and to substi- IOO tute the screw-threaded stud 42 in place of the spring 24, while the contact member 43 is substituted for the threaded socket 20, the same screw which electrically connects the spring 24 to the binding-post 28 serving to electrically connect the screw-threaded stud 42 to said binding-post, and the same screw 19 which electrically connects the threaded socket 20 to the frame 16 also serves to electrically connect the contact member 43 to said frame. It is thus seen that the socket is readily interchangeable from one form of lamp to the. other without in any way changing the construction of the switch mechanism or line-terminals, and in fact every part of the socket remains the same in both instances, except for the substitution of' the parts 42 and 43 for the members 24 and 20.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an incandescent-lamp socket, a base of insulating material having a recess, in combination with a switch in the recess and including a pair of terminals and a rotary cam for connecting the terminals, one oi' the terminals consisting of a spring-arm extending in a direction at substantially right angles to the axis of the socket and having its free end movable laterally with reference to said axis.

2. In an incandescent-lamp socket, a base of insulating material having a recess, in combination with a switch in the recess and including a pair oi terminals and a rotary cam for connecting the terminals, one of the terminals consisting' of a fiat spring disposed Hatwise with reference to the axis of the socket and secured at one end, the free end extending in a direction at substantially right angles to the said axis and springing laterally.

3. In an incandescent-lamp socket, a base of insulating material having a recess in combination with a U-shape frame seated in the recess with its arms projecting in a direction at substantially right angles to the axis of the socket, a spring-terminal secured at one end to the frame and springing laterally with reference to said axis, a second terminal, and means for electrically connecting and disconnecting said terminals.

4. In an incandescent-lamp socket, a base comprising two separable insulator-sections secured together end to end and each having a seat, a U-shape -frame disposed within the base at right angles to the axis and having its opposite edges engaged by said seats whereby the frame is held in position, and an electric switch within the base and having its movable member journaled in said frame.

5. In an incandescent-lamp socket, a base of insulating material comprising' two sections secured together end to end, and each provided with a seat and a recess, a U-shape frame resting on said seats at right angles to the axis of the base, a rotary spindle journaled in the frame, a cam on the spindle revolving in the recesses, and terminals adapted to be contacted by said cam.

6. In an incandescent-lamp socket, the combination with a switchincluding terminals and a rotary cam, a U-shape frame the arms of which are provided with elongated slots closed at both ends, a rotary spindle inserted in the slots and receiving the cam, said spindle having laterally-projecting ins, one of the slots having its opposite walls compressed at one end to prevent the withdrawal of the spindle.

7. In an incandescentlamp socket, a base of insulating material comprising two sections secured together end Yto end, one section having a recess opening from one end, a U-shape frame loosely mounted in the recess and held in position by the other section, a rotary spindle journaled on the frame, a cam on the spindle, a terminal secured to oneoil the sections, a second terminal secured to the frame, said terminals being adapted to be electrically connected and disconnected by the cam.

8. In an incandescent-lamp socket, an insulator-base composed of two sections secured together end to end, one section having a central recess opening from one end, a metallic frame disposed in the recess at right angles to the axis of the base, a spring-terminal secured to the Jframe, a second Yspring-terminal secured to one or' the insulator-sections, a rotary spindle journaled in the frame, and a contact member on the spindle having a wiping or brush contact with said terminals and forming an electrical connection between said terminals.

9. In an incandescent-lamp socket, an insulator-base composed of two sections, one of the sections having a recess opening from one of its end faces, an electric switch having a rotary key, a U shape frame lying wholly within the recess with its arms projecting in a direction at substantially right angles to the axis of the socket and supporting the rotary key and means for clamping the sections together.

10. In an incandescent-lamp socket, an insulator-base composed of two sections, one of the sections having a center recess and two side cut-outs opening from one of its end faces, an electric switch in the recess and including a pair of terminals and a rotary contact member, and binding-posts in the side cut-outs.

11. In an incandescent-lamp socket, an insulator-base composed of sections secured together end to end, one of the sections having a recess opening from the end adjacent to the other section, a U-shape frame in the recess having its arms extending laterally with reference to the axis of the socket, a spring-terminal electrically connected to the frame, a second spring-terminal, a rotary contact member for electrically connecting said terminals in combination with a lamp having a terminal electrically connected to the frame.

IOO

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12. In an incandescent-lamp socket, an outer n.

shell having a metal cap telescoping therewith, an insulator-cap within the metal cap, the latter having tongues stamped or pressed inwardly for holding the insulator-cap in position. Y

13. In an incandescent-lamp socket, an outer metal shell having a removable cap telescoping therewith, said shell being provided with an aperture and having a portion thereof at one side of the aperture eut or stamped to forni a tongue, the latter being folded across the opening and provided with a threaded aperture alined with the former aperture, in coinbination with a screw entering said apertures for securing the cap to the main shell.

H. E. CHASE, MILDRED M. NoTT. 

